Sled.



G. B. MERCER.

v SLBD.

APPLICATION FILEDl AUG. 2B, 1912.

Patented Aug. 12, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

me/wko@ zarZes B. Mercer C. B. MERCER.

SLED.

APPLIOATIONHLBD AUG. ze, 1912.

1 ,070, 1 58, Patented Aug. 12, 1,913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

cq c @wuz/wko@ N @Hummm Charles Mercer coLuMBxA PLANOGRAPM co..\\'Asm.\'a'r0.\'. D. c.

CHARLES B. MER-CER, OF WEST PITTSTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

- SLED.

Lerares.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 12,1913.

Appication filed August 28, 1912. Serial No. 717,581.

To all fau/10m 2f may/ concern Be it known that 1, CHARLES B. MERCER, acitizen of the United States, residing at lifest Pittston, in the countyof Luzerne and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and usefulimprovements in Sleds, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to sleds and more par icularly to self-propelledsleds."

@ne of the principal objects of the invention is to provide suitablemechanism whereby the ordinary Irish mail runabout may be converted intoself propelled sled.

A further object of the invention is the provision of novel means forthrowing the propelling mechanism into and out of operative position sothat the boy using the sled may initially start the same down a hill andthen throw the operating mechanism out of action, whereby he can coastfreely.

Further objects of this invention will ap` pear as the followingspecific description is read in connect-ion with the accompanyingdrawing, which forms a part of this application, and in which Figure 1is a side elevation. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation. Fig. 8 is a top planview with the seat shown in dotted lines. Fig. t is a detail verticalsectional view on the line 1 1 of Fig. 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, 1 represents the frame ofthe machine which is preferably constructed of separated bars 2 and 3connected together at the forward end of the machine by a brace bar 4eupon which is pivoted the front runner frame carrying the skeletonrunners 6. Between the shoes of the runner and the upper portions of theframe are vertical braces 7 constituting part of the frame andprojecting laterally therefrom are foot pieces 8 by which the runnersmay be steered. The rear end of the frame is connected together by ashouldered axle 9 upon which the driving gear 10 is keyed. This drivinggear lies in the center between the two bars 2 and 3 and is rotated bymeans of a crank or cranks 11 which are connected to the operating lever12 by means of links or pitmen 13.

Extending up from each bar 2 and 3 arc seat supporting members 111 and15, the former being provided with an angular de pending extension 1Ghaving` a diagonal slot 17 arranged therein and adapted to receive forvertical movement a driven shaft 18.

This shaft 18 has keyed thereto between the uprights 141 a pinion 19which is constantly. in mesh with the gear 10 irrespective of anyadjustment of the shaft 18. The outer ends of the shaft 18 have securedthereto suitable driving` wheels or sprockets 2O which are adapted to beprojected below the runners 21, as will be hereinafter described. Theserunners are supported upon uprights 22 and 28 secured to the under sideof suitable battens 241 carried by a seat 25. These runners havediagonal braces 26 arranged intermediate the shoe of the upper portionof their skeleton frames and the braces are provided with slots 27 whichare alined with lthe slots 17 in the extensions 16 and are adapted toreceive the terminals of the shaft 18.

1n order to raise and lower the shaft 18 and thereby depress or raisethe wheels or sprockets 2O to operative or inoperative positions, thereis pivoted to the shaft 18 a pair of arms 28 which form one half oftoggle levers, the opposite half being produced by the links 29 pivotedat their upper ends upon the uprights 14. Connecting the center of thesetoggle levers are links 30 which extend forwardly beyond the front ofthe seat and are connected to the lever 31 which is provided with anoperating handle 32 at its upper end. In using the vehicle for coastingand like purposes, the lever 31 is pulled back to the position shown indotted lines in Fig. 1 and the toggle levers operated so as to draw thewheels orsprockets 20 up beyond the shoes of the runners 21. By forcingthe lever forward to the position shown in full lines, the toggle leversare straightened out, as shown, and the wheels or sprockets 2O depressedso that their toothed peripheries are projected below the runners andare in a position to engage the snow or ice. By manipulating the lever12, as is customary, with the ordinary Irish mail runaboutthe wheels orsprockets 20 are revolved and the sled propelled thereby.

l/Vhat is claimed is 1. In a self-propelled sled, a frame, seat membersextending vertically therefrom, a seat supported upon said members,runners supporting members depending from the seat upon opposite sidesof the frame, runners thereon, steerable runners at the front of theframe, an adjustable tractor shaft slidably mounted in certain of theseat supporting members and in the first-mentioned runners. tractorWheels thereon and means Vtor driving the shaft independent; of the adj1 ist ment thereof.

2. In o sled, o frame, seat members eX tendine; vertically therefrom.y asent sup? ported on Suid nleinbers, Certain of said seat supportlnpmembers depending` from the treme and being provided with slots, runnersupporting` members depending from the sont on opposite sides of theframe, runners thereon provided with slots correspondingwith the slotsin the seat supporting menihers, :L tractor shaft slidahl)r mounted inSaid slots and carrying tractor wheels7 toggle levers adapted to raiseand lower said shaft, means for operating the toggle levers und n'lennsfor driving the shaft independentot the adjustment thereof.

In testimony whereof I ntix my sgnnture in presence of two Witnesses.

CHARLES B. MERCER. ltnesses MICHAEL CimLAHimf, THOMAS E. LINNEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for re cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C.

